Lesson Plan: Grape Expectations
Super User
The Culinary Institute of America and Grapes from California introduce an online learning module with innovative menu applications for table grapes.
“Grapes Make the Plate: Fresh Ideas for Modern Menus” is a free online resource at www.ciaprochef.com that illustrates the deeply flavorful, healthful and wide-ranging ways in which fresh California table grapes can create eye-candy color appeal and menu inspiration.
Taking fresh California grapes into new realms of culinary innovation, “Grapes Make the Plate” explores using California grapes in everything from soups and salads to main courses and desserts. Through online videos, chef-tested recipes and information on the nutritional value of fresh grapes, the online learning module presents scores of new ideas exploring the grape's culinary potential, including underutilized techniques such as juicing, roasting, carbonizing and frying grapes that create compelling textures and nuanced flavors.
Among the video demonstrations and recipes using fresh California table grapes are Fritto Misto of Grapes, Fennel and Lemon with Lemon Crème Fraîche; Ajo Blanco with Slow-roasted Grapes and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil; Moroccan Seared Pork Tenderloin with Israeli Couscous, Pine Nuts and Fresh Red Grapes; Black Grape Sorbet with Goat Cheese Mousse and Honey Tuile; and more.
In addition to video demonstrations and recipes, “Grapes Make the Plate: Fresh Ideas for Modern Menus” has online segments on "Color, Juice, Crunch: One Chef's Perspective”; “Grapes: The Good News Fruit" (with information on grapes as part of a healthful diet); and “Sweet vs. Heat: Grapes in the Global Kitchen.”
“As a chef, it was really interesting to see how many different ways I could use grapes to create new flavor profiles and vibrant color in dishes, and surprisingly, the versatility of grapes in creating appealing textures in food,” says Scott Samuel, the CIA chef-instructor who created the recipes for the online module.
“Grapes Make the Plate: Fresh Ideas for Modern Menus” is presented by Grapes from California and can be found at www.ciaprochef.com/grapes. It was produced by the CIA New Media group, which has been honored with two James Beard Awards for Best Video Webcast.
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